The Matamoros “drug cult” murders: Borderland perceptions and the shaping of belief

Authors

Victor Gomez, University of Texas-Pan American

Date of Award

5-2005

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

First Advisor

Dr. Roberto M. Salmon

Second Advisor

Dr. Angela Vergara

Third Advisor

Dr. Petra Guerra

Abstract

Media coverage of the Matamoros “drug cult murders” highlighted the abduction and murder of twenty-one year old college student, Mark Kilroy, while enhancing negative images of Mexican people. What makes the Kilroy coverage a watershed in history is how racism played a part during and after print media coverage of the discovery at Santa Elena. Through U.S. media especially, Anglo beliefs of cultural backwardness, Mexican police corruption, and religious misrepresentation are expressed by way of stereotypes held about Mexican border people. In this day and age, U.S. media uses these superficial beliefs to portray one group of people, and enhances these beliefs by distorting belief systems that print media characterize as being part of third world images.

Comments

Copyright 2005 Victor Gomez. All Rights Reserved.

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/utrgv.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/matamoros-drug-cult-murders-borderland/docview/305371671/se-2?accountid=7119

Granting Institution

University of Texas-Pan American